As students return from summer break, the Dallas Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be monitoring active school zones throughout the city of Dallas. Last year, there were 400 vehicle accidents in school zones, resulting in 11 serious injuries.  The most common causes of these accidents are the following:

• Failure to control speed
• Driver inattention
• Failure to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign or private drive

Due to the increased foot and vehicle traffic around local schools, drivers are reminded to remain alert, refrain from using all electronic communication devices, and heed all warning signs when approaching school zones. 

Here are some important tips:

• Know the starting and ending portions of the school zones you travel through.
• Some school zones have stop signs or traffic lights within them; forgetting that you are in a school zone once you start moving again is not an excuse.
• Our children’s safety and lives depend on your heightened vigilance and caution.

Dallas traffic officers will be assigned to enforce all traffic violations, including motorists speeding through school zones, vehicles driving past school bus warning devices, and use of wireless communication device in a school zone.  Motorists in violation are subject to fines and court costs in excess of $200 per violation.